Process for making curtains using improved pleater guide



Sept. 10, 1968 M. EUZARRAGA PROCESS FOR MAKING CURTAINS USING IMPROVED PLEATER GUIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1966 FIG. lb

FIG.2

INVENTOR. ROSENDO M. EUZARRMSA ATTORNEY Sept. 10, 1968 M. EUZARRAGA PROCESS FOR MAKING CURTAINS USING IMPROVED PLEATER GUIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed April 5, 1966 FIGA INVENTOR. ROSENDO M. EUZARRAGA W 31% FIG. 6

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,400,868 PROCESS FOR MAKING CURTAINS USING IMPROVED PLEATER GUIDE Rosendo M. Euzarraga, 2043 Embassy St., Anaheim, Calif. 92804 Filed Apr. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 541,149 2 Claims. (Cl. 223-34) ABSTRACT OF THE DISGLOSURE Sewing the lower edge of a perforated tape to the top edge of a drapery material and folding the tape and material so that the tape is enclosed within the material, and then folding the enclosed tape and material to form a loop. A pleater guide is inserted into the loop for defining the lines which should be sewed together to form a pleat. The process is repeated until the number of required pleats have been formed.

This invention relates to a process using a pleater guide for making pleats having an improved appearance.

There are many processes for making pleats including mechanical devices for creasing the material so to form and hold pleats. In certain of the processes, a tape is sewed to the back of drapery material and a hook is used to form the pleat. Ordinarily, it is difiicult to maintain the center folds in the same place as the outer folds. Other processes teach the use of a paper pattern for loeating the base of the pleat prior to sewing. Generally, a completed pleat has three folds which are formed by initially sewing or otherwise locating a base line. When the base line is located, a single fold is formed. The single fold is then forced downward toward the base to form three folds. Subsequently, the pleat is stitched to hold it in place. The difference in the prior art processes appears to be the manner in which the base line is located and the general process for forming and securing the three folds of the pleat.

The prior art apparently does not disclose a process using an improved pleater guide for accurately locating the base of the pleat. By forming the single loop with a guide it can be accurately repeated at intervals. Since the loop is the same at each location, the pleats, when formed, are also equal to each other.

Briefly, the present process comprises in one embodiment sewing a perforated tape to drapery material. The tape is perforated along the lines where the material is folded to form a pleat. The perforation areas are spaced so that when the pleat is formed, each pleat will be spaced a selected distance, for example, 4 inches, from the other pleats. A guide, called a pleater guide herein, is used for locating the base line of the pleat. The material is folded over and the pleater guide is inserted so that one edge of the guide presses against the inside of the fold and the other edge presses against the outside of the folded material. The material is sewed along the edge of the guide pressing against the outer surface of the material. The guide comprises at least three significant surface edges. The first edge is the edge along which the material is sewed. The second edge is at right angles to the first edge and provides a stop against the top of the drapery material during the sewing step. The third edge is parallel to the first edge and at right angles to the first edge. The third edge presses against the inner surface of the fold. By utilizing the three edges described, a pleat is formed in which the base of the pleat is formed at right angles to the top of the drapery material. Also, the general appearance of the pleat, that is its symmetry, is duphcated during the formation of each pleat.

. In a preferred embodiment, the pleater guide is divided nto two relatively flat members so that when the guide s inserted in the fold of the drapery material, one edge is on top of the material and another edge is inside the fold. The inner edge holds the material taut at the center of the fold.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a? improved process using a pleater guide for forming p eats.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved pleater guide for use in forming symmetrical pleats.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an economical process using a pleater guide for forming pleats having a symmetrical appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and the invention will best be understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an illustration of the pleater guide.

FIGURE 1a is an end view of pleater guide 1.

FIGURE lb is a wide side view of pleater guide 1.

FIGURE 2 is a representation of perforated tape joined to drapery material.

FIGURE 3 is a representation of the material folded to conceal the tape.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional representation of the material folded with the pleater inserted.

FIGURE 5 is a representation of a pleat loop after initial sewing; and

FIGURE 6 is a representation of a pleat in a final form.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, wherein one embodiment of pleater guide I is shown. The guide is shown as having two longitudinally extending members separated by space 2 having an end 6. Space 2 is offset from the center of the guide in a preferred embodiment to avoid interferences between a user and the sewing machine (not shown).

The longitudinal members are integrally formed with handle portion 10 which is raised at an angle with respect to the member to facilitate handling. Any angle between and 0 would permit functional operation although an angle of 45 is preferred.

First member 9 includes edge member 3 which is at right angles to edge 5. Member 9 also includes a turned down edge 4 which may in one embodiment 'be serrated for increasing gripping force. Second member 8 also includes edge 7 which is parallel to edge 3 and which is at right angles to edge 5. The spacing from edge 3 to edge 7 is sufiicient to provide a loop of material which can 'be folded into a single pleat. In other words, the distance must be adequate to permit bending as shown in FIGURE 5 into the final form as shown in FIGURE 6. If the distance is increased the overall height of each fold of the final pleat increases. If the distance is decreased, the overall height decreases. The perforation spacing as shown in FIGURE 2 would have to be changed accordingly.

Members 8 and 9 have portions removed so as to form a flared opening at the mouth of the space. The mouth portion permits a user to easily insert the guide into the fold as shown in FIGURE 4.

The various edges which are described above as being parallel or at right angles to each other enables a user 3 to maintain accuracy in the formation of pleater. Each pleat will be substantially the same SiZe and have substantially the same appearance. The spacing between the members permits the user to insert the guide into the folded material so that edge 7 presses against the inner portion of the fold and edge 4 presses against the outer surface of the material. The spacing must be of sutficient width to accommodate the thickness of the material 'being used in producing the pleats.

The pleater may be comprised of various materials well known in the art, such as steel and alloy thereof, plastic, aluminum and others. It may be produced by molding, stamping or other processes equally well known to persons skilled in the art. While it is shown as an integral member, it may be produced in sections and assembled.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, wherein is shown tape joined by sewing along line 22 to material 21. The material could be joined by other means, such as by gluing, stapling or by means of adhesive tape, but sewing is preferred. In addition, the material could be joined at the top of the material although the location shown is preferred so that when the material is folded to conceal the tape, less material is utilized than would be the case if the tape is joined at the top of the material.

The tape is shown as having groups of perforations or score lines divided into five sections a, b, c, d and e for each pleat. The additional markers B and L show the intended pleat base line. The pleat, when finished, will .have the approximate height of one of the sections. The

width of the guide is dependent on the desired height of the pleat.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, wherein is shown material 21 folded over tape 20 so that the tape does not show at the top of the drapery material after the pleats are formed. In the end view illustrated, the location where the material was sewed to the tape is also shown. After each fold on the material, in a preferred embodiment, the material is lightly pressed in order to form a crease. When the folding is complete it is reopened and the tape is "bent or folded at the center of each group of perforations. In FIGURE 2, the center is shown as c. As a result, when the material is refolded, the center of each pleat is easily determined even though the tape is concealed from view.

In the alternative, the guide may be formed with overall length which is equidistant from one center line to the other. After the first center is located, the guide may be placed lengthwise along the material which is folded over the tape so that a second center can be located.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, wherein is shown the pleater guide properly inserted in the folded drapery material preliminary to forming a pleat. Edge 5 contacts the top edge of the folded material and edge 7 exerts a force against the inner fold of the material. Edge 4 is pressed by the user against the top surface of the material at the proposed base of the pleat.

The sewing apparatus 30, 31 and 32 shown, including the needle portion is pressed against the material and sews a straight line along the edge of member 3. The presser foot on the sewing machine apparatus is switched so that it contacts and holds the material. As the needle moves up and down to sew the base line, a rotating member acts in sequence with the middle to move the material under the presser foot. A user presses member 3 downward against the material so that it is securely held during sewing. The pressure may be exerted by placing two fingers of the right hand on the top surface of member 3. The right hand can also be used with or without the left to pull the material under the sewing apparatus during sewing.

In operation, the bulk of the material is to the left of the user and free from interference with the sewing apparatus. Only the guide and material folded around it are within the area between the needle portion and the remainder of the sewing machine apparatus. Generally, a sewing machine has a head portion which includes a needle assembly and a wheel assembly. The guide and material, as indicated, are located between the two assemblies during sewing.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, wherein is shown a single loop which will fold to form a pleat. The loop is formed by sewing the base 40 of the pleat. The loop is folded along the perforated lines at locations 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. The distance from folded lines 41 and 45 to base line 40 is greater than the spacing between the remaining perforated lines to permit the pleat to be evenly formed along the top surface. In other words, adjustment is made to compensate for the fact that the inner fold of the pleat cannot physically be referenced to the base due to the thickness of the material.

Referring now to FIGURE -6, the completed pleat is shown, with the portions 46 selected for stitching. After stitching, the pleat folds stay relatively together and give a custom appearance.

In forming the pleat, perforated tape 20 is sewed to material 21. Subsequently, the material is folded around the tape twice so that the tape is concealed. The material is then folded to form a single loop about the central score line. The center of each loop is located as previously described herein. Ordinarily, the pleats are formed beginning at one end of the material. The guide is inserted to form the loop and the material is sewed together along the edge of the guide to form the pleat base. After the base is sewed, the material is creased or folded along the remaining score lines of the tape to form the pleat folds. After folding, the loop is compressed downward as illustrated by the arrows in FIGURE 5. Creased edges 41, 43 and 45 comprise the outer face of the pleat. After being compressed, the pleat folds are stitched at a location defining the division between the pleat and the remainder of the drapery material. Preferably, the stitch is located at the base of the tape.

It should be obvious that the above description is intended to cover only a preferred embodiment of the process and the guide for producing an improved pleat. The guide may be modified so that it performs the functions described. For example, the turned down portion may be eliminated completely. The spacing between the first and second members maybe increased or decreased. The width of the first and second members may also be increased or decreased so as to shift the spacing between them. The edge of the handle which is orthogonally located with respect to the parallel edges of the members may be formed by placing a bar along the top surface of the handle. The bar may be adjusted or shifted so that it is orthogonal to the parallel edges.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrative embodiment there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications in structure, arrangement, the elements and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A process for forming pleats using a pleater guide comprising the steps of providing a tape having a plurality of perforated lines, permanently securing said tape, between the top and bottom edges thereof, to a length of drapery material along a horizontal axis parallel to the top and bottom edges thereof, the perforated lines defining pleat folds and including a central line, folding said tape and material parallel to the edge of the drapery to envelope the tape within the material, folding the tape and material about the central line of the tape to form a loop, inserting a pleater guide in the loop, aligning said guide to define the pleat base along a line parallel to the central line and orthogonal to the top of the material, connecting the folded material along the defined base line to form the pleat base, removing the pleater guide, creasing the loop along the remaining perforated lines, pressing the loop downwardly to form a pleat comprising a plurality of folds and connecting the folds together at a selected point for maintaining the pleat in a desired position.

2. The process as recited in claim 1 wherein said joining comprises sewing the lower edge of the tape to the top edge of the material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bisbee 22335 Aschbacher 223-34 Peck 22334 Claeys et al. 223-35 Shee 223-34 Handley 223-30 X Kessler 223-30 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

